Toshiko Takaezu: The Earth in Bloom

Born in Hawai'i of Japanese parents in 1922, Toshiko Takaezu is considered one of the finest ceramic artists in the world today. Her five-plus decade career has touched the lives of many students, colleagues, and collectors. Early in her career, Takaezu developed an approach to art that combines techniques and sensibilities of both East and West. In the 1950s, she studied in Japan with master potter Toyo Kaneshige and in 1967 began teaching at Princeton University, which awarded her an honorary doctorate in 1996. Toshiko Takaezu: The Earth In Bloom, is the first book ever published on the lifework of Ms. Takaezu. This widely celebrated, collected, and respected ceramic artist and her work are shown in this lovely and loving tribute. Toshiko Takaezu: The Earth in Bloom is a beautiful color photography book of Toshiko and her pots. Her forms are photographed in their element: in the studio, out of doors, nestled among the flowers. "In my life I see no difference between making pots, cooking, and growing vegetables. They are all so related. However there is a need for me to work in clay. It is so gratifying and I get so much joy from it, and it gives me many answers in my life."